Vandals Put Bull's-Eye On Bartlesville Buffalo Statue

A buffalo statue in Bartlesville has a bull’s-eye on its back.

Vandals have targeted the statue over and over, and the people who donated the piece of art want it to stop.

In Sooner Park, Sparty the Buffalo is wrapped in orange fencing to keep people away from him after he was vandalized for a third time right before Christmas.

"The leg's been busted through. The paint's been chipped off again," said Beth Marable.

Marable is a Sooner High alum and part of the alumni group that donated Sparty to Sooner Park. The Buffalo was a gift to the city park through a fundraiser as a way to remember the old high school.

"So, the alumni of Sooner High School from 67 to 82, send their money in and they hold onto that money until we need it so that it where all of our money comes from," she said.

Sparty has been at Sooner Park for a little more than a year and hasn't been able to catch a break.

Marable said he was vandalized the first time just months after being installed. The alumni used their funds and fixed him, then, it happened again, and again.

She said, "It looked like someone had taken a knife and cut through the fiberglass, and he hadn't been back out here except from approximately four to six weeks and he got vandalized again."

This last time, the 500-pound buffalo was found pried from his concrete base, lying on his side with chipped paint, crushed fiberglass and scratches.

In total, the Sooner alumni have spent more than $12,000 installing and repairing their beloved gift to Bartlesville.

It's a display the alumni thought would be appreciated, but, instead, feel it's become a target.

"It's been just very disappointing,” Marable said. "I just wish people would understand, this is a piece of art."

Police are investigating and hope someone comes forward with any information about the vandalism.

The Alumni board said they want to keep Sparty in Sooner Park, just down the street from the old high school, but said if it keeps getting vandalized they'll have to move him somewhere else.